Chinese Medicine: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 577: Chapter 577: Banzhilian

"Lu Ke?"

It took Li Xu a moment to place the name.

It was the real name of the internet celebrity "Keke," whose video he had seen a few days ago.

After her lung cancer diagnosis was confirmed, she had temporarily gone offline.

He hadn’t expected the system to continue monitoring her condition and provide a detailed traditional Chinese medicine formula for fighting cancer.

’This prescription...’

Li Xu studied it carefully.

Ban Zhi Lian and white flower snake tongue grass are a classic pairing in traditional Chinese medicine for fighting cancer, possessing powerful properties for clearing heat, detoxifying, promoting diuresis, and reducing swelling.

Combined with dandelion to dissipate nodules, Houttuynia cordata to clear the lungs and expel pus, and Huang Qin to purge lung fire.

It was a typical formula for "clearing heat and detoxifying, resolving phlegm and dissipating nodules," making it highly suitable for the excess-heat syndrome seen in early-stage lung cancer.

The primary herb in this formula was Ban Zhi Lian.

It is widely distributed throughout China, found basically everywhere in the south.

It thrives in damp, humid environments and can be seen everywhere in ponds, drainage ditches, swamps, and damp places by fields and roadsides.

The characteristics of Ban Zhi Lian are also distinct. Its stem is erect, its leaves are short-stalked or nearly stalkless, and the blades are triangular-ovate.

Notably, when it blooms, the flowers only grow on one side. These flowers have blue corollas and are quite beautiful. The flowering period is relatively long, generally from April to August.

As for its medicinal value, some experienced elders know it as a well-known remedy for snakebites. There’s even a folk saying: "With Ban Zhi Lian in the house, you can sleep soundly with snakes."

In the past, venomous snakes often appeared in the damp areas of rural paddy fields and river ditches. It was easy for people to get bitten if they weren’t careful.

Back then, there were few other methods for treating venomous snakebites. People mostly gathered and applied their own herbs, with Ban Zhi Lian being the most commonly picked.

Ban Zhi Lian has another name: Han Xin Grass.

According to legend, the founding general of the Han Dynasty, Han Xin, lost his father in childhood and his mother in his youth. His family was poor, and for years he struggled to make a living by selling fish.

One day, while selling fish at the market, Han Xin was beaten up by several ruffians and left bedridden.

A kindly neighbor brought him food, took care of him, and gathered a type of wild grass from the fields. She brewed a soup with it for him to drink, and within a few days, he had recovered his health.

Later, Han Xin joined the army and became a general of illustrious military achievement, helping Liu Bang defeat Xiang Yu and conquer the realm.

Han Xin cared deeply for his soldiers during campaigns. After every battle, there were many wounded. He would visit and comfort them while also sending men to the fields to gather the same wild grass the neighbor had used to heal him.

They would gather the wild grass, distribute it to each battalion’s camp, and brew it in large pots for the wounded soldiers to drink. Those with minor injuries would recover in three to five days, while those with serious injuries would regain their health within ten to fifteen days. The soldiers were all deeply grateful to their general.

Afterward, whenever wounded soldiers used this wild grass during battles, they would recover quickly. When the soldiers asked General Han Xin what this medicine was called, the general only knew that the grass the old woman had gathered for him was very effective, but he didn’t know its name.

A soldier suggested naming it Han Xin Grass.

The soldiers unanimously agreed.

And so, the Chinese herbal medicine "Han Xin Grass" spread throughout the army camps and later to the common people.

...

「The Hospital.」

Lu Ke clutched a freshly printed genetic test report in her hand.

"It’s confirmed. Early-stage lung adenocarcinoma."

The doctor spoke with a regretful expression. "Although it’s early-stage, which theoretically has a high cure rate, the genetic test results unfortunately show that you have a rare EGFR-negative case, with no ALK mutation either. This means you can’t use any of the first-line targeted drugs currently on the market, which are the most effective and have the fewest side effects."

"Then... then what do I do?"

Lu Ke asked, her voice trembling.

"The only options are second-line targeted drugs or traditional chemotherapy."

The doctor pushed up his glasses. "And I have to warn you, the second-line drugs are not only expensive—they aren’t covered by insurance yet and cost over fifty thousand a month. More importantly, their side effects are significant. Rashes, diarrhea, liver and kidney damage... You need to be mentally prepared."

"A bed will be available next Tuesday. Go home and get your things in order. You can come straight here to be admitted then."

Walking out of the hospital entrance, Lu Ke found the sunlight so piercingly bright it made her dizzy.

She wandered aimlessly down the street like a lost soul.

Back at her rented apartment, she threw herself onto the sofa. She wanted to call her parents, but her finger hovered over the dial button, unable to press it.

’Mom and Dad are old, and their health isn’t great.’

’If they found out their only daughter has cancer, it would be a catastrophe of epic proportions.’

"I can’t tell them... I absolutely can’t tell them..."

She bit her lip as tears streamed silently down her face.

A sense of helplessness washed over her like a tidal wave.

She picked up her phone, habitually opened TikTok, and recorded a video that was only a few seconds long.

No filter, no background music, just a face filled with despair.

"It’s confirmed... no drugs work... chemotherapy next week..."

After she posted the video, the comments section instantly blew up.

Many people offered comfort and encouragement.

At the same time, some fans mentioned a name—

"Keke, don’t give up! Go find that Dr. Li, the one who spotted your clubbed fingers at a glance!"

"Yes, yes, that Doctor Li is a Divine Physician. I heard he’s cured many difficult and rare diseases. He was the first one to discover your illness, too. It must be fate!"

"It’s a long shot, but what if there’s a miracle?"

Of course, there were also rational voices: "Don’t talk nonsense. This is cancer, not a cold or a fever. Traditional Chinese medicine is fine for conditioning the body, but fighting cancer still relies on Western medicine. Don’t delay proper treatment."

Reading these comments, a faint glimmer of hope rose in Lu Ke’s heart.

’That’s right, that Dr. Li...’

Although they had never met, the fact that he could diagnose her illness just from a video was an incredible ability in itself.

’I should give it a try...’

Lu Ke tapped on Li Xu’s profile picture and sent a private message: "Dr. Li, hello. My name is Lu Ke. Um... can you help me? I’ve been diagnosed, and the doctors say there are no suitable targeted drugs..."

After sending it, she tossed her phone aside, not daring to look at it again.

She thought to herself, ’He’s a Divine Physician, he must be so busy every day. Why would he bother with a minor internet celebrity he’s never met?’

However, just ten minutes later, her phone chimed with a DING.

Lu Ke snatched up her phone.

"I can. Come to Li’s Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic in Feng City tomorrow morning. Bring all of your test reports."

It was a simple sentence, but it was like a ray of light that instantly illuminated Lu Ke’s bleak world.

...

「The Next Day.」

「Feng City, Li’s Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic.」

Wearing a mask and hat, Lu Ke pushed open the clinic door with a nervous heart.

The clinic wasn’t large, but it was exceptionally clean. A faint, reassuring aroma of herbs lingered in the air.

"You must be Lu Ke. Come in."

Li Xu was in the middle of taking an elderly man’s pulse. He glanced up as she entered and gave her a gentle nod.

When they were the only two left in the consultation room, Lu Ke took off her mask, revealing a face that was delicate but gaunt with exhaustion.

Li Xu wasted no time and began taking her pulse.

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